/ ˈnɒbl; NAmE ˈnɑːbl/ verb [ vn ] ( BrE , informal )
1.
to prevent a horse from winning a race, for example by giving it drugs
2.
to persuade sb to do what you want, especially illegally, by offering them money :
his attempts to nobble the jury
3.
to prevent sb from achieving what they want
SYN thwart
4.
to catch sb or get their attention, especially when they are unwilling :
He was nobbled by the press who wanted details of the affair.
► nob·bling noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 19th cent.: probably a variant of dialect knobble , knubble knock, strike with the knuckles .